Bit of a worry that our last news post was a week before our MD Ella’s third child was born ;) Things have been busy enough for her to shift into a lower gear but quiet doesn’t mean off the case. In fact the opposite is true and for the past few months, having seen our last documentary picked up by Netflix, we’ve been quietly working away on our first drama (exciting!). Shooting starts this Spring and yes, it goes without saying it’s focus is for the animals.

We were recently fortunate to spend the day with Ricky Gervais, Joanna Lumley and Peter Egan working together on a campaign film for Change for Animals Foundation. As many of you know, we've produced two films

(Shadow Trade, on Netflix and I Didn't Know) about the dog meat trade in Thailand -this new film aims to tackle the problem in Indonesia. Watch this latest film and find out more here: dogmeatfreeindonesia.org

(We're also happy to share news that five days after this filming, EFs Managing Director's baby daughter Mo was born).

EF are thrilled to announce that 'Shadow Trade - The Price of Loyalty' has been added to Netflix documentaries. Huge thanks to the the charities who supported EF and helped make this possible; The Soi Dog Foundation; The Dogs Trust; Animals Asia Foundation; The Humane Society of The United States; Network for Animal Protection; The Marchig Trust and also to 'Shadow Trades' distributors Earth Touch.

Due to demand, ‘With Landscape in Mind’ is now available to download online. In this hour long documentary landscape photographer Joe Cornish makes a journey from coast to coast across the North of England - tracing a path from the industrial mouth of the river Tees, through the stark and beautiful limestone scenery of the Yorkshire Dales, to the Lake District, arguably one of England's most romantic and spectacular landscapes. Connecting the Steelworks of Teeside and Sellafield Nuclear Power Station, among many other locations the film explores themes of energy creation and conservation as well as what it means to archive the landscape for future generations. The documentary is as much about photography as it is about the environment.

EF are in the research stage for a commissioned BBC documentary about a group of physical, mental and spiritual practices and disciplines originating in ancient India, known to most as Yoga. The documentary, following five lead characters, will explore the various practises from their creation to modern day.

This Autumn EF are immersed in a film that will raise awareness about the suffering of sentient beings held in captivity for human entertainment. Working alongside The Captive Animal Protection Society and supported by numerous other leading charities, this important film will be released early next year.

Thailand, one of the most beautiful and peaceful nations in the world, houses a deadly secret. A savage and harrowing trade reaches across the entire country yet is somehow hidden from most of its people. Dogs are disappearing by the thousand, pet and street dogs all vanishing into the shadows, but where are they going? Shot on location in Thailand and Vietnam the documentary follows the stoic determination of an ex-Fleet Street journalist as he battles to uncover the truth. Tracking down the cruelty from all angles the film exposes the inhumane practices of both a local and international trade. With the help of many tenacious supporters he aims to expose the secrets of this tragedy, but will this be enough to galvanise a country into action?

‘Shadow Trade’ took 18 months to produce with our investigation and filming specialists spending most of that time in the dog meat trade hotspots. Two main trips saw Director Richard Elson and Director of Photography Ben Todd travel from London to Thailand and Vietnam. In addition to this two dog smuggling interception operations involved cameraman Prem Ananda being flown in urgently from Manila and news cameraman Florian Witulski being rushed from Bangkok. Journalist John Keeble was on the scene, travelling within Thailand on the investigation, whose costs were financed by the Soi Dog Foundation.

In the shadows of the trade, a small group of Thai heroes enabled us to film during their dangerous undercover work.

This investigative documentary offers a unique insight into a practice that has been known by the public only as arrest and reaction headlines. It has never-before-seen footage and firsthand accounts from eye witnesses, high ranking officials and even smugglers themselves.

The unfolding story explains the trade and the cruelty without showing the harrowing scenes that still haunt those who witnessed them. It also shows that many of the people living in Thailand condemn the dog meat trade and campaign against it.

Mostly ‘Shadow Trade’ was filmed openly and with full permission from subjects but at times the team had to use undercover methods. Specialist filming equipment, including cameras hidden in watches and buttonholes, were used. Wherever possible, the team acted to save the lives and suffering of the dogs.

The complicated logistics were managed from London by Executive Producer Ella Todd, Producer Cherique Pohl and Researcher Stacey Emiliou.